MARIETTA, Ohio – Mount Union's men's basketball team ended their season as they lost to #8 ranked Marietta, 100-78,  Thursday night in the Ohio Athletic Conference Semi-Finals.

The Purple Raiders (15-12) were led by DeAllen Jackson (Akron/Hoban) and Tommy Stenger (North Canton/Hoover) who each put up 17 points. Thomas Mason (Alliance/Marlington) posted 13 as Nathan Bower-Malone (Stow/Stow) added 10 points.  

Marietta got 29 points from RaNeal Ewing as they move on to the OAC Championship game.  

Mount Union got off to a big start leading by four points in the first five minutes, to then go on a 19-5 getting a 15 point lead over Marietta, 29-14, with 8:43 to go in the first half.  

The Pioneers got back within four points of the Raiders, 36-32, with 2:58 remaining until halftime. Two ties occurred in the last minute as Mount Union went into the break up by one point, 41-40.

Mount Union kept their lead with two three-pointers by Stenger (North Canton/Hoover) but Marietta pushed for a two point lead, 50-48, at the 15:30 mark. The Pioneers got their lead up to 13 points, 64-51, over the Raiders with 11:30 to go.

An Andrew Francesconi (Tallmadge/Tallmadge) three-pointer sparked a 9-5 run to get the Raiders back within three points of the Pioneers, 75-72, with 5:40 remaining.  Marietta pushed their lead back to 14 points, 88-74, as Mount Union could not get back within 10 points as they lost 100-78.  

Mount Union has made it to the Semifinals of the OAC Tournament five of the last six years.